Filed: Feb. 04, 2009
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED February 4, 2009 No. 08-50335 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk In the Matter of: SHERRY L BELCHER Debtor - SHERRY L BELCHER Appellant v. JOHN DOE; JOHN O’DOWD; GAYLE O’DOWD Appellees Appeal from the United States United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 5:06-CV-1068 Before REAVLEY, BARKSDALE, and GARZA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Debtor Sherry L. Belcher ap
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED February 4, 2009 No. 08-50335 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk In the Matter of: SHERRY L BELCHER Debtor - SHERRY L BELCHER Appellant v. JOHN DOE; JOHN O’DOWD; GAYLE O’DOWD Appellees Appeal from the United States United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 5:06-CV-1068 Before REAVLEY, BARKSDALE, and GARZA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Debtor Sherry L. Belcher app..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
February 4, 2009
No. 08-50335 Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
In the Matter of: SHERRY L BELCHER
Debtor
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SHERRY L BELCHER
Appellant
v.
JOHN DOE; JOHN O’DOWD; GAYLE O’DOWD
Appellees
Appeal from the United States United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 5:06-CV-1068
Before REAVLEY, BARKSDALE, and GARZA, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Debtor Sherry L. Belcher appeals from the district court’s order affirming
the bankruptcy court’s adjudication of two state-law causes of action in an
adversary proceeding. After reviewing the parties’ briefs, the record, and the
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 08-50335
applicable law, the district court’s judgment is MODIFIED for the following
reasons:
1. The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction over the trespass to try title
action and the claim that Belcher violated TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE
§ 81.103 under its “related to” jurisdiction because both causes conceivably
could have affected the bankruptcy estate. See 28 U.S.C. §1334; In re
Wood,
825 F.2d 90, 93 (5th Cir. 1987). We need not decide whether a
violation of TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 81.103 is a personal injury tort
under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(5) because Belcher impliedly consented to the
bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction by failing to object in both the bankruptcy
court and the district court. See In re Tex. Gen. Petroleum Corp.,
52 F.3d
1330, 1337 (5th Cir. 1995).
2. Belcher fails to explain what witnesses and photographs she was
precluded from offering or how denial of the evidence harmed her. She
also provides no record citation for the purported real estate instruments.
We find no error in the bankruptcy court’s evidentiary rulings. See, e.g,
Triple Tree Golf, Inc. v. Nike,
485 F.3d 253, 265 (5th Cir. 2007) (holding
that evidentiary rulings, which are reviewed for abuse of discretion and
subject to harmless error analysis, will be affirmed unless a substantial
right has been affected).
3. We do find error in the bankruptcy court’s ruling that Belcher violated
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 81.103 because there is no evidence that
Belcher knew of Doe’s test. She knew of his health condition from what
he had told her, but nothing was said to her about a test or medical proof.
See New Times, Inc. v. Doe,
183 S.W.3d 122 (Tex. App. 2006).
The judgment is modified to vacate the award of $1,000 damages to John
Doe for violation of the Health & Safety Code. The district court remanded to
the bankruptcy court the award of attorneys’ fees, and that is not before us. We
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No. 08-50335
leave that matter where it is, with however our present ruling may affect it.
AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.
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